Another matchweek is here. It will be an away game awaiting Enyimba this afternoon. They make the trip into the deep part of the South-south to face Bayelsa United at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa. It is third place going up against the side third from bottom position. No guessing you should know who is in third place and who occupies third from bottom by now. The team have done well to stay in the top-three despite all the ups and downs in recent days.
I think honestly there should be little or no worries going into this match for Enyimba’s travelling contingent. Coach Yemi ‘Yema’ Olanrewaju has a full strength squad at his disposal to go into this match except for Clinton Jephtha who is now expected to return to the team in the coming days after helping Nigeria Under-20s win the WAFU B U20 tournament in Togo. Truth is Clinton has been quite influential in all of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) matches he has played in, and his return will surely add bright sparks to Enyimba’s attacking line. But Yema will have to face Bayelsa United without him. However I expect Enyimba to cope and thrive at Bayelsa United.
The People’s Elephant just need to show that intestinal fortitude they have always shown in previous trips to Yenagoa in recent seasons. A little under a year ago Enyimba won 2-1 at the same ground through goals from Ekene Awazie and Chijioke Mbaoma. The good thing is Awazie is very much available and will possibly start from the outset on Sunday. One thing that puts Enyimba favourites ahead of this game is that they are unbeaten in five previous league meetings with Bayelsa United including two in Yenagoa (W3 D2).
Let me add that Yema and his men are facing the side with the poorest goalscoring return so far this season after nine matches. Bayelsa United have managed just five goals and that should mean Enyimba can keep them at bay and take away a clean sheet with them if the boy stay focused at the back. Bayelsa United have not scored two goals in a single NPFL game this season and Enyimba can make sure that continues.
Beyond goal expectations, Enyimba can rely on their back line—to an extent—as any two of Pascal Eze, Somiari “Skippo” Alalibo and recently, Moses Adiukwu can successfully keep things tight in front of Ani Ozoemena who I believe will definitely be handed a start ahead of the rest of the safe hands unless he returned from Abuja unfit. Hopefully, the experience of Kalu Nweke will also be required in the midfield alongside the ever present Eze Ekwutoziem, just as the watchful eyes and positional alertness of Ifeanyi Ihemekwele will be expected. No doubt, he’s their hottest property in the attack, bar Jephtha.
Going forward, Yema and his men must find a way to breach that five-man defence Ladan Bosso always prefers in his 5-4-1 formation which at times, he switches to a 4-4-2 with a double defensive midfielder. I am sure Awazie and Ifeanyi Ihemekwele will be among the starters for this one, and hopefully Enyimba should get the done. I believe this is a game Enyimba can win if they play to their potential.
The game at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex is a very winnable one, the very same way, it is a banana peel. A look at the table already shows that they need to grab maximum points away from home today and avoid away day heartbreaks for the rest of the matches this month—that includes the trip to Egypt. If Enyimba must remain at Continental positions by the end of this month, the first step this evening will go a long way to determine how they end up by the first of December. Rake in as many points as they can before the games in hand start piling up.
All the best to the People’s Elephant this evening.
Enyimba Enyi!
